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Rogers announces new 6GB data option, launch details for iPhone 3G

By Charles Starrett ● Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Rogers Wireless and Fido have announced a new 6GB data option that will be offered to iPhone 3G customers who activate their phones by August 31, and have also revealed details of their iPhone 3G launch plans. Both will be opening select stores at 8 a.m. local time Friday morning to begin sales of the iPhone 3G, and will celebrate the occasion with free early bird breakfasts and various giveaways. Participating Rogers stores include the 112-10 Dundas Street East location in Toronto, the Montreal store at 1015 rue St. Catherine Ouest, the 690 Bank Street location in Ottawa, the Halifax store at Unit 265, 7001 Mumford Road, the Rogers store at 5244 Falsbridge Gate, NE in Calgary, and the company’s location at 2097 West Broadway in Vancouver. Fido will be hosting its event at its flagship store at 1004 rue St. Catherine Ouest in Montreal.

In addition to the launch details, both companies announced a new 6GB data option that will be offered as a limited time promotional offer for customers who activate by August 31 on a three year contract. The CAD$30 a month option can be added to any in-market voice plan, and both companies will offer customers the choice to select from their existing voice and smartphone data plans and/or additional features to best suit their needs. Finally, existing customers can keep their current voice service plan and select a separate data plan or choose from other plans after checking their individual upgrade eligibility. Rogers Wireless and Fido had previously angered some customers with the announcement of their iPhone service plans, which the upset customers deemed unfair.

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The $30 plan is an add-on to whatever else you’ve got, and in fact has to be added to an “in-market” voice plan (presumably meaning one that is currently available from Rogers/Fido, as opposed to an older grandfathered plan).

Basically, you’re paying $30 for 6GB of data in addition to whatever else you already have on your plan. It’s a better deal in terms of the amount of data, but it still means you’re paying $60-$70 for a more complete iPhone plan.

The plan itself has a limited time period to sign up, but it’s good for the entire three-year term of the contract, as long as you’ve signed up for it by August 31st. Note also that this promotion is not specific to the iPhone—any 3G phone qualifies, as long as you’re willing to renew your contract for another three years.

The one thing that remains unclear is how it will affect their existing “iPhone Plans” since these already include data. Whether this will be an additional $30 on top of an iPhone plan or not has not yet been stated.

Posted by Jesse Hollington on July 9, 2008 at 5:51 PM (CDT)

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um….I think ilounge has this wrong. According to the website, the 6gig plan is $100 not the $30 mentioned here.